I hate lunges

I hate lunges and squats. I have a bad knee and a fused ankle so it's really hard. My legs are weak though so I am trying to do more of them... even if its minimal now I hope to increase it in time. Ya jus gotta suck it up and do it I guess!

I like the idea of step-ups ... maybe I'll build a platform or something that I can use for that.

Back to the lunges thing though ... is there a fundamental difference between holding a weight over your head and just holding some at your sides? I've been mostly doing them holding 25lb overhead.

[QUOTE=AmyMac703;963788]I like the idea of step-ups ... maybe I'll build a platform or something that I can use for that.

Back to the lunges thing though ... is there a fundamental difference between holding a weight over your head and just holding some at your sides? I've been mostly doing them holding 25lb overhead.[/QUOTE]

Overhead is more demanding when it comes to core stabilization and is a good sneaky way to develop shoulder stability.

Squats, deadlifts, running up stairs etc

Do lunges. I do squats, lunges and RDLs on leg day. Lunges, by far, are the best/worst.

I mean, I love/hate them. Sure, they make me puke sometimes. And yes, they max out my heart rate more than sprinting, but isn't that a good thing? Nothing reminds you of how good lunges are more than trying to crawl up the stairs from the basement after a leg workout and failing.

--Me

Tried replacing lunges with step-ups in my warmup yesterday ... meh, I think I'll go back to doing lunges. Mostly because I couldn't get into a rhythm to alternate my legs efficiently, and the posse of curlbros hanging out in the corner where I warm up certainly didn't help.
As for my at-home workouts ... might just give in and buy more weights. Holding a circular plate over my head seems to bother me less than holding a bar (only thing I have is a curl bar, which I add 2 10lb weights to so I get 25lbs).

I think I should have used the term 'fundamental' movements. Lunging is included in one of the 4 Pillars Of Human Movement, so I reckon it has some importance. But regarding actually doing a full lunge as part of an everyday move, no, probably not, but sections of that movement are utilised in all sorts of everyday moves when you really break it down.

Here is a little bit about testing, Gray Cook has quite a bit to say about the subject if you youtube him

[url]http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2953313/[/url]

[url=http://britmma.co.uk/#/the-seven-basic-human-movement/4544893115]Home - BritMMA.co.uk[/url]

[url=http://movemofitness.com/2011/10/the-7-basic-human-movements/]The 7 Basic Human Movements - Movemo Fitness : Movemo Fitness[/url]

[url=http://www.zealcenter.com/2011/06/the-four-pillars-of-human-movement/]The Four Pillars of Human Movement[/url]

[url=http://nicktumminello.com/2012/04/the-5-pillars-of-functional-movement/]Performance U. Fitness Continuing Education | | The 5 Pillars of Functional Movement![/url]

[QUOTE=EvRevFit;963794]Overhead is more demanding when it comes to core stabilization and is a good sneaky way to develop shoulder stability.[/QUOTE]

I like KB snatch to rear lunge for that type of thing, have you tried em???